The National tribune., 1887-10-27
A BOY SPY In DIXIE.
Continued from 1st page.)

agent lOI NY siut-d Spy Il NOulu NC Cdlicu
We're / detected. The word is distastetul as
seeming, from its common use, to designate
one who intrudes into private affairs To pro-
mote villainous ends. The military spy has
far different standing. He is necessary for
his side, because his leaders require and
must have information of the enemy that
may not be gained in an open manner. lie
is daring and honorable, though secreting
his designs, but never treacherous. The
memory of Maj. Andre is respected and
yenerated, while Benedict Arnold Is desplsed
and eXecrated. The purely accidental
knowledge acquired OF the designs and
methods of Wigiall and his associates proved
the fact that he and Others OF his ilk were
boldly plotting treason under the very
shadow OF the Capitol of the Nation, even
while he and they stood daily in that Capt.
tol legslatlng for the Nation under their
solemn oaths of Office TO uphold and defend
the Constitution and the flag of that Nation
against all assailants, be they foreign or
domestic. So, inyoluntarily and purely
from patriotic motives, 1 was led forward IN
action until, without planning such action,
/ had arrived at a point where new work
was demanded of me that placed my life in
deadly peril, and this, tOo without promise
or hope of any pecunlary reward.
ANY PECUNIARY REWARD.
The Warrington Navy Yard, which was
then the only one in the South, had early
been seized 10y the rebels, but their attempt
TO take possession of the Notifications about
Pensacola had been partially defeated by the
loyalty Of Lieut.. Adam j. Slemmer, who
executed there a movement similar TO that
Of Maj. Anderson at Charleston, from Moul-
irie 10 Sumter, by abandoning Forts Barran-
cas- and McRae, on the bay shore, and remoy-
ing TO Fort PIckens, on the point of Santa
Rosa Island, AT the mouth Of Pensacola Bay.
The Navy Yard was beautiful place
then, and when i had passed the numerous
guards along the road entered the yard and
examined ii from waterside 10 gate There
Were many of the rebel troops all about, and
all were talking loudly and constantly.
Here / first heard, with astonishment, that
peculiarity of volunteer troops that was so
familiar feature during the war-the out
spoken criticism OF higher authorities, mill
tary and civil, 10y officers and men OF the
line.
The general talk was of
DISGUST AT THE INACTIoS
Of the Generals in command, and hardly a
Captain or Lieutenant was there, and not a
few OF those wearing chevrons, but had full
faith that he, individually, could administer
the command with far greater success and
glory 10 their cause. Every line officer deli-
nIteiy expected AT some day TO be a General
officer, and every ynOn-c0mmlsslOned officer at
least Colonel IN time. Each and everyone,
without exception, wanted the ball 10 open.
They wanted 10 light That was what they
were there for, and why didn't they begin
and force Fort PIckens TO haul down that
hated Stars and Stripes that foated there
before their eyes.
The rebel soldiers generally were too busy
with the one subject of criticism and fight
ing TO spend time on any other, but found
one man At last that puzzled first and then
pleased me. He was an old sailor OF our
navy, crippled and relying much on his
heavy cane, who had been unable TO get
away and had been retained in the hospital
there. He was curt and gruff in speech
with me, but l soon noticed that his eyes
kept wandering away toward where the
Union flag hung over Pickens, or out fur
ther where our men-of-war were lying an
chored. When he did that he became
changed in manner aud soitened, but he
wonid rouse again To tell me 10 be of away
20 my supposed Texas home, and 10 have
nothing TO do with these fellows '-indicat-
ing thereby the rebel sOldiery. / iancied
then, aud believe now, that the old fellow
was thoroughly loyal at heart, and yearned
10 be back where the old flag would DC above
his head.
1t is impossible now 10 describe the emo
tiOns that filled Iny heart when / first saw
the Union flag floating over Fort Pickens
across the narrow bay. To be sure, / had
only been a few weeks away from the North,
but il seemed an age TO me since had feast
ed my eyes on our beautiful flag. Every
where about me the
STARS AND BARS
and different State flags were hung or worn
bat / hated its sight only the more as my
eyes saw it oltener. With all my loyalty,
never knew until that moment how beauti-
ful thing our American flag is. 1t was not
far away, Haunting ia the sunlight from Fort
PiclIens a bold defiance TO the numerOu:
rebels, but the narrow stretch Of water that
lay between was a more effeetual barrier
than stone walls.
had arrived at the Navy Yard very early
in the morning, and il was close toward moor
when | was ready TO leave. On doing so
attached myself TO party of ladies anC
gentlemen who were also sight-seers and had
also come TO Pensacola TO "see fight,
and followed quietly with them along tn,
road further down the bay. Just below tn,
yard the camps and works began, and almos
the first place we came TO was the ColumbiaG
battery of which / had heard so much tn,
day before. The party had joined soon
MET GEN BRAXToN BRAGG,
who was in chief command there, and VIII,
seemed TO be an acquaintance with some o
them, and especially of the leader of tn
visitors, who was the identical gentleman
, had followed from Montgomery. / stucl
, close along, and Gen. Bragg himself led th
way TO a point where we could look dowl
D inside the battery where the dread Colum
= biads were mounted. This was an open wOrl
I some hundred yards long, built of sandbag:
{; and was masked along its front by thicl
a fringe of scrub-pines stuck in the sand
beach. The guns were l0-inch caliber. Jus
. in rear a smaller work was built on TN
higher ground, where battery of brass field
q | guns Were placed 10 distract inquisitive eye
+ from the heavy water-battery below. n
T one but the officials was permitted to vsi
Il the lower battery, where guards were sta
i toned, but Gen. Braggs guidance enable
! y US TO get the view, and his introduction {
l. the party to some of his officers enabled IN
:. TO visit the place at will afterwards as wa
: naturally supposed TO be one of the General
/, friends.
4 Gen. Bragg was called away by his dutie
3 but calling several officers, placed them j
d charge as escort, with instructions TO sho'
e, us everything Of interest. This was done